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Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoMichael Conroy | Associated PressFormer Ohio State receiver Corey Brown isn’t considered big by NFL standards, meaning he is likely to be a late-round draft pick at best.

INDIANAPOLIS — Unofficially, Corey Brown had a superb time in his 40-yard dash at the NFL
combine.

Officially, it lost much of its luster.

Entering the NFL combine this weekend, the Ohio State receiver was considered a late-round draft
pick at best. In his media interview on Friday, Brown said he expected to run a 40 in the high 4.3-
or low 4.4-second range.

Yesterday morning, Brown posted an unofficial time of 4.37. But hours later, his official time
was posted: 4.51. Brown wasn’t alone. Official times were consistently slower than the immediate
unofficial ones.

A fast 40 time wouldn’t guarantee that Brown will get drafted. At 5 feet 11 and only 178 pounds,
Brown is small for an NFL receiver. He wasn’t much of a pure deep threat at Ohio State, and he
needs to show pro scouts that he has the speed to do that.

Brown said he doesn’t dwell on his draft status.

“I’m going to go out on Sunday and do what I can do and showcase what I can do, and from there,
I’ll let God handle it,” he said.

Brown overcame a slow start at Ohio State to become the leader of the receivers group, partly
because of his competitiveness and partly because of his charismatic personality.

Asked how he would describe himself to NFL teams, Brown replied, “A leader, a competitor, a
winner. I’m accountable. I’m going to show up every day.”

Brown was limited late in the year because of a stress fracture in his leg. His Ohio State
career ended on a sour note when he fumbled a punt return that changed the momentum of the Orange
Bowl loss to Clemson.

“It was tough, especially to go out like that for your last game,” Brown said. “But we had a
good run. College is college and now it’s time to move on.”

Asked how often he has replayed the punt return in his mind, he said, “Not once.”

Although his Ohio State days are over, one legacy from it remains. He was nicknamed “Philly” to
differentiate him from the Corey Brown who hails from Pittsburgh. He is the only Corey Brown at the
combine, but his NFL-issued hoodie read “P. Brown” on the back.

One of the teams he has met with is the Philadelphia Eagles.

“They said it’s only right that we get you since your name is Philly,” he said.

Although his focus is squarely on his future, Brown takes much pride in being part of the
Buckeyes’ success.

“The last two years, those were the years that football was the most enjoyable, not just for me
but for everybody,” he said. “Just being able to win so many games in a row and be a part of so
many great accomplishments: the (24-game) win streak, the all-Big Tens, the best offense ever to
come through Ohio State. To be a part of that stuff with my teammates is an honor.”

Coach Urban Meyer has said that Brown is among the players who made the biggest strides under
him. Meyer is friends with several NFL coaches, which can only help Brown find a home in pro
football.

Roby on union

Former Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby hadn’t kept up with the push by Northwestern players
to form a labor union in hopes of being designated as employees, but he is sympathetic to the
cause.

Roby said that as intense as college programs are now, “I feel it’s just like the NFL. It’s
about results. It’s about winning. That’s what the game is about.

“The training is hard. There’s a lot of things you have to do as a college athlete: classes,
working out, performing week-in and week-out.”

Some players don’t have the financial means to live comfortably on what a scholarship provides,
he said.

“The sheer amount of money that athletes make for universities, it’s like, man, we’ve got to
have more than just a scholarship,” Roby said. “At the end of the day, you can have a scholarship
and still not have food. Not everybody comes from a decent background.”

Hyde hampered

Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde suffered a setback while running the 40-yard dash.

Hyde finished in 4.66 seconds after pulling up with an apparent injury to his left hamstring
during his first attempt of the day. Hyde, who hopes to be a first-round draft pick, will get
another chance to run the 40 for NFL scouts during Ohio State’s pro day on March 7.